Washington, May 15th, 1862.
Sir: In
compliance with your request, I give you a sketch of my life during the last
eight years.
I graduated at the University of Vermont in 1854. My Father
died in the year 1848, leaving property only sufficient for the support and
education of the younger children of the family, for which reason I thought
best to borrow money for the expenses of my own education.
I went to Texas in November 1854, and taught a school in the
city of San Antonio for nearly three years with success, thereby paying the
indebtedness just referred to.
In 1857 I married Mrs. Cordelia M. Forsyth, a lady born in
the North, but whose residence at time was near Pensacola, Florida. Her
property was large, including about seventy negroes. We settled in San Antonio
where I bought property and commenced studying Law. A little less than one year
after our marriage my wife died leaving me a son but a few days old. Not
desiring that my child should be reared in the South, I brought him North when
somewhat more than a year old, and placed him in the care of my relatives in
Vermont, where he now is.
My time not occupied in the study of my profession,
was fully taken up in the management of my wife's estate, until July 1860, when
I went to Mexico, and traveled over a large portion of that country on
horseback, going almost to the City of Mexico. I brought back two hundred
horses intending to establish a stock ranch. On my return in December the
country was already in confusion, and fearing the great troubles which have
since occurred, I sold my stock, and since that time have been occupied in
arranging matters so that I could honorably leave the country. My great object
was to protect my child's interest in his mother's estate — an object which is
secured, if rebels observe even their own laws.
I was in Pensacola when the property there of the United
States was captured by the rebels, and, returning to San Antonio two months
afterwards, was in considerable danger on account of writing articles for a
Union newspaper which was destroyed soon afterwards by a mob, the Editor escaping
to Mexico. Since then, I have been offered frequently, a commission in the
rebel army, if I would join them.
On the 18th of last February, I left San Antonio in company
with Col. Bomford and two other officers of the United States army, prisoners of
war, who having been exchanged, recently arrived in this city. At that time we
had heard of no important victories of the Union arms, and imagining that the
Government needed the services of every truly loyal man, I desired and expected
to join the Army of the United States.
Traveling through New Orleans, Corinth, and East Tennessee,
I reached Richmond, hoping by the aid of influential friends there, to obtain
permission to pass the lines. This was refused, and I was directed to return to
Texas. In East Tennessee I left the railroad, and, guided by Union men, walked
through woods and over mountains, to Richmond, Ky., a distance by the
circuitous route travelled of about two hundred miles — and reached home in
April.
It is not improper for me to say, that I am familiar with
the people of the Southwest, their opinions and habits of thought and action. I
have seen Slavery in all the Southern States, in all its conditions and
aspects, and am now fully satisfied that its influence on the best interests of
the country, is everywhere disastrous.
SOURCE: Diary and correspondence of Salmon P. Chase, Annual
Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1902, Vol.
2, p. 298-300
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